Safety climber



SeP- 13, 1966 D. E. BULLARD ETAL 3,272,283

SAFETY CLIMBER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed DSC. 15, 1964 Sept. 13, 1966` D. E. BULLARD ETAL SAFETY CLIMBER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 15y 1964 IN VEN TORS" 051/201 5MM/QD BY Maa/MM@ United States Patent O M 3,272,283 SAFETY CLIMBER Denzol E. Bullard, 1406 Childs St., and Hugh W. King, P.O. Box 787, both of Corinth, Miss. Filed Dec. 15, 1964, Ser. No. 418,422 Claims. (Cl. 182-141) This i-nvention relates to ladder devices, and more particularly to self-elevating ladder devices for use by painters or other workers to facilitate painting walls or other operations of a like nature.

A main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved self-elevating ladder device which is relative- 'ly simple in construction, which is safe to use, and which can be employed for many lpurposes wherein a conventional ladder would be unsatisfactory, for example, for servicing lighting equipment in llarge buildings where there is no support for Va conventional ladder, for erecting or repairing signs, for example, for servicing neon signs, and for supporting scaffolding by employing two devices according to the present invention with a boa-rd or platform supported therebetween.

A further object of the invention is to provide an im- Iproved self-elevating ladder device which is relatively inexpensive to fabricate, which is durable in construction, land which supports `a workman in a comfortable position at any desired height relative to an adjacent wall or surface on which work is to be done and which supports the worker at the same distance from said surface regardless of the height to which the worker is elevated.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved self-elevating ladder device which may be ernployed in various locations and under a wide range of different conditions, which does not require a supporting surface against which it must be leaned, which is provided with means for adjusting its base portion to irregularities in the ground or other surface on which it is resting, which supports a worker in an elevated position with maximum safety and with minimum obstruction to vision, and which is easily extensible so that it can be employed to support a worker at `a considerable height with relative safety and security.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational View of an improved self-elevating ladder device const-ructed in accordance with the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is ya fragmentary front elevational view of the ladder device of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged transverse vertical cross sectional view taken substantially on the line 3 3 of FIG- URE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a vertical cross sectional view taken substantially on the line 4 4 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is `an enla-rged cross sectional detail view taken through the locking means for the extension chain employed in the ladder device of FIGURES 1 to 4.

FIGURE 6 is a horizontal cross sectional view taken substantially on the line 6 6 of FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 7 is a horizontal top view of the ladder device taken su'bstantially on the line 7 7 of FIGURE 1.

Referring to the drawings, the improved self-elevating ladder device is designated generally at 11 and comprises a supporting base consisting of a pair of sleeve bars 12, 12 of substantially square cross sectional shape which are hingedly connected together at their forward ends by a vertical pivot bolt 13 which extends through a lug 14 formed on one of the sleeve members 12 received between a pair of flanges 15, 15 formed on the other sleeve mem-ber 12, the bolt 13 being threadedly engaged through these members so that it is adjustable in position vertically.

3,272,283 Patented Sept. 13, 1966 ICC The bolt 13 is provided -at its top end with a laterally extending handle rod 16 permitting it to be manually rotated, and is provided at its bottom end with a universally `adjustable ground-engaging foot element 17 provided with depending prongs 18 adapted to embed themselves in the ground or in the subjacent supporting surface under the weight imposed on the foot member 17.

Slidably engaged in the sleeve members 12, 12 are extendible channel bars 19, 19 to the ends of which are threadedly engaged further bolt members 13 provided with operating handles 16 and universally adjustable ground-engaging foot elements 17 similar to that already described.

The sleeve members 12, 12 are provided with upstanding pivot lugs 20 and pivotally connected thereto at 21 are respective upstanding channel bars 22, 22 formed with inturned opposing flanges 23, 23, as shown in FIG- URE 6. The channel bars 22 are braced to their supporting sleeve members 12 by the provision of respective strut members 24 connected between respective upstanding pairs of supporting lugs 25, 25 provided on the members 12 adjacent their pivotally connected ends and respective pairs of connecting lugs 27, 27 provided on the channel bars 22 at substantial distances above their bottom connections 21, as is clear-ly shown in FIGURE 1. The upper connection of each strut member is made at a selected aperture 28, as by means of a connecting pin or bolt 29, so as to support the associated channel member 22 in a desired upright -position which is substantially vertical .and parallel to an adjacent vertical surface to be painted or otherwise worked on.

Thus, as shown in FIGURE l, the connections to the strut bars 24, 24 may be made to support the channel members 22, 22 parallel to the adjacent wall surface 31, regardless of the irregularities of the bottom supporting surface 32.

Slidably engaged in the channel bars 22, 22 are respective channel-shaped inner bar elements 35, 35 of the extensible upper portion 36 of the ladder assembly, said channel bars 35, 35 being interconnected at their top ends by a channel-shaped cross bar member 37. A supporting chain 38 extends through a guide channel 39 integrally formed in one of the channel members 22, being connected to the top portion of the guide channel 39 at 40, as shown in FIGURE 4, and engaging around an idler sprocket 41 journaled in the lower portion of the inner channel member 35, extending through a guide housing 42 mounted on the bottom edge of a carriage frame 43 movably supported in the inner frame member 36. The guide housing 42 has its downwardly and laterally inclined bottom Wall 44 formed with a depending spring housing 45 containing a coil spring 46 which surrounds a locking bolt 47. The bolt 47 extends Slidably through the housing 45 and through an aperture 48 in the wall 44, the bolt being provided with a locking hook 49 at its top end engageable through a selected link of the chain 38, as shown in FIGURE 5. The spring 46 bears between the bottom wall of housing 45 and a bearing washer 50 secured to the bolt 47, biasing the bolt upwardly, namely, toward the locking position thereof shown in FIGURE 5. The lower end of the bolt 47 is provided with a gripping handle 51 by means of which bolt 47 may be pulled downwardly to disengage hook portion 49 from chain 38, to allow the chain to be manually moved through the housing 42. Thus, when it is desired to extend the frame 36 relative to the outer channel members 22, 22, the chain 38 is connected to the bracket housing 42 by engaging same through the housing against the bottom wall 44 and locking it to said bottom wall by means of the bolt 47. As will be presently explained, the frame 36 will be extended upwardly responsive to the upward movement of the carriage 43. When it is not desired to extend the frame 36,

the chain 38 is simply disconnected from the housing 42 by pulling the bolt 47 downwardly and withdrawing the chain from the housing 42.

If so desired, a chain 38 for elevating the inner frame 43 may be provided on both of the channels 22 instead of merely on one of the channels, as illustrated.

The inner channel members 35 are slidably guided inside the outer channels 22 by the provision of a plurality of outwardly projecting spacer lugs 54 on the inner channel members 35 which slidably engage the inside surfaces of the outer channel members 22, as illustrated in FIG- URE 6, said lugs being of suitable anti-friction material to provide smooth sliding action between the inner channel members 35 and the outer channel members 22.

As shown in FIGURE 6, the inner channel members 35 are provided with inturned flanges 55 which are parallel to the inturned flanges 23 of the outer channel members 22. The inturned flange elements 55 are provided with spacer lugs 54 which slidably engage the inside surfaces of the inturned flange elements 23 of the outer channel members 22, as shown in FIGURE 6.

The movable carriage assembly 43 comprises a generally rectangular vertical plate-like main body 56, and the locking housing 42 is secured to the bottom edge of said main body 46. Said bottom edge is likewise formed with a horizontally projecting foot rest flange 57 of substantial area. Respective horizontal shafts 58 and 59 are secured to the top and bottom portions of the main body 56, as by the provision of clamping brackets 60 and 61, and journaled on the ends of the shafts 58 and 59 are rollers 62 in rolling contact with the inside surfaces of the flanges of the inner channel members 35 so as to smoothly guide the carriage 43 vertically between said channel members 35, 35. A drive shaft 63 is journaled to the platelike main body 56 of the carriage member 43 adjacent to the axis of the lower set of rollers 62, respective drive sprockets 64, 64 being secured to the ends of the shaft 63. The drive sprockets 64 meshingly engage with respective sprocket chains 66, 66 provided in the channel members 35, 35, each sprocket chain 66 being connected at its top end to the upper portion of the associated channel member, as shown at 67, adjacent one side of the channel member and at its bottom end, as shown at 68, to the bottom end portion of the associated channel member adjacent the other side thereof. The sprocket chains 66 pass around the drive sprockets 64 and upwardly around drive sprockets 69, 69 secured on the ends of an idler shaft 70 journaled to the main body 56 at a substantial distance above the drive shaft 63 and on the opposite side of body 56 relative to drive shaft 63, as shown in FIG- URE 3, so that the chains 66 pass under the sprockets 64, then extend upwardly and over the sprockets 69, and then downwardly toward their bottom connection 68. Rotation of the drive shaft 63 thus acts to move the carriage 43 vertically in the frame 36. Furthermore, as abovernentioned, when the chain 38 is connected to the housing 42, the upward movement of the carriage 43 also tends to extend the frame 36 upwardly from the outer supporting channels 22, 22. Thus, as will be apparent from FIGURE 4, upward movement of the carriage 43 develops tension in the chain 38 which is transmitted through the idler sprocket 41 to the frame 36, thus providing lifting force for the frame 36 which elevates the frame. The drive shaft 63 is driven by an electric motor 71 mounted on the body 56 and drivingly connected through a gear reduction unit 72 and a chain sprocket belt 73 to a sprocket wheel 74 secured on shaft 63. The motor 71 is energized from a suitable power source through a control switch which may be mounted on the carriage 43, or alternatively, may be controlled from a remote position. Preferably, the control switch is located on the carriage 43 so that the Worker using the device may energize the motor 71 whenever necessary to change the height of carriage 43.

FIGURES l and 2 show the device in somewhat ex- 4 tended position, as compared with FIGURES 3 and 4 which show the device in its fully lowered condition. As shown in FIGURE 2, as the carriage 43 rises the chain 66 applies lifting force at its lower bight portion 76, elevating the frame 36 at half the rate that the carriage 43 is being elevated.

Rigidly secured on the top edge of the carriage body 56 is a seat 77 of sufficient area to allow a worker to sit comfortably thereon and spaced the proper height above the foot rest 57 so that the workers feet may be supported on said foot rest. As shown in FIGURE 1, the foot rest 57 preferably projects forwardly a substantial distance beyond the vertical plane of the forward edge of seat 77 to allow ample space for the workers feet.

Pivoted at 78 to the top ends of the outer channels 22 are respective spacer sleeves 79 which are supported in forwardly projecting horizontal positions by the provision of bracing struts 81 connected in the intermediate portions of the sleeves with points on the channel members 22 spaced therebelow, as shown. Spacer rods 82 are threadedly engaged in the sleeves 79 `and are provided at their ends with .abutment heads 83 engageable with the surface of the wall 31 adjacent to the device 11, as shown, to provide accurate desired yspacing between the ladder device -and the wall. Lock nuts 84 are provided on the threaded rods 82 to lock said rods in adjusted positions.

It will be noted that ample space is provided on the foot rest member 57 not only for the workers feet but also for various tools and materials which may be required in the operation to be performed on the wall 31. Thus, paint buckets, brushes, and other tools may be supported on the foot rest 57, which thus serves as a shelf.

The bottom support bars 12, 12, along with their extensible elements 19, 19, thus dene la generally V-shaped supporting base Whose arms may be lengthened, as required, depending upon the conditions of the supporting floor or ground therebeneath, and the supporting rod members 13 may be adjusted to compensate for irregularities in the subjacent supporting surface, as previously mentioned. The pronged foot elements 17, provided with the sharp prongs 18, provide anti-slip engagement with the subjacent supporting surface, so that the base of the ladder device is safely and reliably held.

As will be readily apparent, the device is readily foldable for transportation or storage and can be easily disassembled, if so desired, to facilitate such transportation or storage thereof.

In setting up the apparatus for use it is placed adjacent 'to the wall surface 31 to be painted or otherwise worked on, and the spacer rods 82 are .adjusted to provide the desired spacing between the workers seat 77 and the wall 31 to provide the worker with the most desirable freedom of action. If so desired, a bubble level may be provided on each channel bar 22 to indicate its true vertical position when the ladder device is set up for use.

As previously mentioned, when it is desired to provide for the extension of the inner frame 36, the chain 38 is connected to the bracket 42, so that said inner frame is moved upwardly along with the carriage 43 when the motor 71 is energized,

While a specific embodiment of yan improved safety ladder devi-ce has been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention except as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A ladder device comprising an outer frame, an inner frame slidably engaged with said outer frame for movement parallel thereto, means to support said outer frame in an upstanding position, said inner frame being provided with parallel track members, a carriage member engaged with said track members for movement therealong, means on said carriage member to support an operator, a pair of spaced wheel members rotatably mounted on said carriage member, an elongated exible member connected at one end to the top portion of said 4inner frame and at the other end to the lower portion of the inner frame and engaging under and around one wheel member and over and Iaround the other Wheel member, drive means on the carriage member operatively connected to one of the wheel members for raising and lowering the carriage member, and ymeans connecting the carriage member to the outer frame and supportingly-engaged with the inner frame for moving said inner frame upwardly relative to said outer frame responsive to and simultaneously with the upward movement of said carriage member in said inner frame.

2. A ladder device comprising an outer frame, an inner frame slidably engaged with said outer frame for movement parallel thereto, means to support said outer frame in an upstanding position, said inner frame being provided with parallel track members, a carriage member engaged with said track members for movement therealong, means on said carriage member to support an operator, a pair of spaced wheel members rotatably mounted on said carriage member, an elongated ileXible :member connected at one end to the top portion of said inner frame and at the other end to the lower portion of the inner frame and engaging under and around one wheel member and over and around the other wheel member, drive means on the carriage member operatively connected to one of the wheel members for raising and lowering the carriage member in said inner frame, Ian idler wheel journaled on the lower portion of said inner frame, and an elongated flexible member connected at one end to the top portion of said outer frame and at the other end to said carriage member, said last-named flexible member passing supportingly under said idler wheel and supporting said inner frame for upward movement parallel to said outer fra-me responsive to and simultaneously with the upward movement of said lcarriage member in said inner frame.

3. A ladder device comprising an outer frame, an inner frame slidably engaged with said outer frame for movement parallel thereto, means to support said outer frame in an upstanding position, said inner frame being provided with parallel track members, a carriage member engaged with said track members for movement therealong, means on said carriage member to support an operator, a pair of spaced sprocket wheels rotatably mounted on said carriage member, an elongated sprocket chain connected at one end to the top portion of said inner frame and at the other end to the lower portion of the inner frame and engaging under land around one sprocket wheel and over and around the other sprocket wheel, a motor mounted on the carriage member drivingly connected to one of the sprocket wheels for raising and lowering the carriage member in said inner frame, an idler sprocket wheel journaled on the lower portion of said inner frame, and a sprocket chain connected at one end to the top portion of said outer frame and at the other end to said carriage member, said last-named sprocket chain passing supportingly under said idler sprocket wheel and supporting said inner frame for upward movement parallel to said outer frame responsive to and simultaneously with the upward movement of said carriage member in said inner frame.

4. A ladder device comprising an outer frame, an inner frame slidably engaged with said outer frame for movement parallel thereto, means to support said outer frame in an upstanding position, said inner frame being provided with parallel track members, a carriage member engaged with said track members for movement therealong, means on said carriage member to support Ian operator, .a pai-r of spaced wheel members rotatably mounted on said carriage member, an elongated flexible member connected at one end to the top portion of said inner frame and at the other end to the lower portion of said inner frame and engaging under and around one wheel member -and over and around the other wheel member, drive means on the carriage member operatively connected to one of the wheel members for raising and lowering the carriage member in said inner frame, an idler sprocket wheel journaled on the lower portion of said inner frame, and a sprocket chain connected rat one end to the top portion of said outer frame and at the other end to said carriage member, said last-named sprocket chain passing supportingly under said idler sprocket wheel and supporting said inner frame for upward movement parallel to said outer frame responsive to and simultaneously wih the upward movement of said carriage member in said inner frame.

5. A ladder device comprising an outer frame, an inner frame s-lidably engaged with said outer frame for movement parallel thereto, means to support said outer frame in an upstanding position, said inner frame being provided with parallel track members, a carriage member engaged with said track members for movement therealong, means on said carriage member to support an operator, a pair of spaced wheel members rotatably mounted on said carriage member, an elongated flexible member connected at one end to the top portion of said inner frame and at the other end to the lower portion of the inner frame and engaging under land around one wheel member and over and around the other wheel member, drive means on the carriage member operatively Iconnected to one of the wheel members for raising and lowering the carriage member in said inner frame, an idler wheel journaled on the lower portion of said inner frame, an elongated iexible member connected at one end to the top portion of said outer frame and passing under said idler wheel, and means for detachably connecting said last-named flexible member to the carriage member, whereby to support said inner frame for upward movement parallel to said outer frame responsive to and simultaneously With the upward movement of said carriage member in said inner frame.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 533,056 1/1895 Dobkins 182-148 775,373 11/1904 Maxey 182-148 2,177,941 10/ 1939 Knudson 212-27 2,641,846 6/1953 Zeno 182-145 2,787,343 4/ 1957 Mitchell 182-145 2,953,229 9/ 1960 Wiegel 182-63 2,965,191 12/1960 Balogh 182-63 FOREIGN PATENTS 8,234 l/ 1906 Denmark. 1,848 1/ 1907 Great Britain.

REINALDO P. MACHADO, Primary Examiner. 

1. A LADDER DEVICE COMPRISING AN OUTER FRAME, AN INNER FRAME SLIDABLY ENGAGED WITH SAID OUTER FRAME FOR MOVEMENT PARALLEL THERETO, MEANS TO SUPPORT SAID OUTER FRAME IN AN UPSTANDING POSITION, SAID INNER FRAME BEING PROVIDED WITH PARALLEL TRACK MEMBERS, A CARRIAGE MEMBER ENGAGED WITH SAID TRACK MEMBERS FOR MOVEMENT THEREALONG, MEANS ON SAID CARRIAGE MEMBER TO SUPPORT AN OPERATOR, A PAIR OF SPACED WHEEL MEMBERS ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON SAID CARRIAGE MEMBER, AN ELONGATED FLEXIBLE MEMBER CONNECTED AT ONE END TO THE TOP PORTION OF SAID INNER FRAME AND AT THE OTHER END TO THE LOWER PORTION OF THE INNER FRAME AND ENGAGING UNDER AND AROUND ONE WHEEL MEMBER AND OVER AND AROUND THE OTHER WHEEL MEMBER, DRIVE MEANS ON THE CARRIAGE MEMBER OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO ONE OF THE WHEEL MEMBERS FOR RAISING AND LOWERING THE CARRIAGE MEMBER, AND MEANS CONNECTING THE CARRIAGE MEMBER TO THE OUTER FRAME AND SUPPORTINGLY-ENGAGING WITH THE INNER FRAME FOR MOVING SAID INNER FRAME UPWARDLY RELATIVE TO SAID OUTER FRAME RESPONSIVE TO AND SIMULTANEOUSLY WITH THE UPWARD MOVEMENT OF SAID CARRIAGE MEMBER IN SAID INNER FRAME. 